RE: Riverside Fire

From: Gerald Fisher

Sent: Sat Sep 12 14:07:13 2020

To: Jody Newland

Subject: RE: Riverside Fire - Phase II

Importance: Normal

Attachments: image001.jpg;

Absolutely. Sorry, was in long meeting with Rep Lewis. Going home now to move my family back to our property. Dropped to level 2.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

-------- Original message --------

From: Jody Newland <jnewland@cityofmolalla.com>

Date: 9/12/20 1:41 PM (GMT-08:00)

To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Re: Riverside Fire - Phase II

Wow, thank you for this email, Gerald!

Is it okay if I share some of the practical pieces of this email?

I love your 1-4 at the end. I think this is a great reminder.

Thank you for your part in caring for all of us,

Jody

From: Gerald Fisher

Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 12:01 PM

To: Jody Newland

Cc: Dan Huff

Subject: RE: Riverside Fire - Phase II

Hi Jody,

We have been washing down the city facilities because PD, PW, and others have been going in and out of the buildings and it is creating plums of ash. We are washing off what will be the high traffic areas. Arterial and collector street travel lanes only (not parking area of roadway) so that vehicles do not stir up ash. No neighborhood streets will be done because rain will take care of it. Rain expected to come in waves of showers so the streams aren’t inundated. Lots of City areas flow into water quality ponds to help stop ash from hitting streams.

You are correct that folks should not wash down there driveways and under no circumstance use a blower.

Here are some things people can do once evacuation restrictions are lifted and until the rain gets here:

* Washing off the first 5 feet of the entryways is OK and will help keep ash from tracking into home or business.
* Try to wash into grass or landscaped areas if possible.
* Limit water use until firefighting is done. We can make more water than what the current draw is now for firefighters but if the population starts overusing water then we may have a problem.
* Let the rain do the work of cleaning up your property.
* Limit your movements around town and in and out of home. Stay put and stay safe.
* Avoid social media dialogue and speculation of what is actually going on. Help stop rumor mills because the do no good.
* More detailed information will continue to roll out as we get it and hopefully a public information officer at the state level will start feeding information out to people.

Important things to remember in a fire event.

1. We can’t get back to normal until we clean up.
2. We can’t clean up until the event is over.
3. The event isn’t over until the fire fighting folks say it is over.
4. Firefighters can’t do their jobs if folks are getting in the way.

Public Works is in a support role to the fire district. It is our job to keep the city roadways clear and water system running. We are also in a support role for the Police Department so they can do their jobs. We know where our crews are at and everyone is safe. We will bring them into work in small teams until we think it is safe to run at full staff levels. That’s all I have for now. Thanks Jody.

Regards,

Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director

City of Molalla

117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038

Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218

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From: Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 11:37 AM

To: Jody Newland <jnewland@cityofmolalla.com>

Cc: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: RE: Riverside Fire - Phase II

Jody – I am going to let Gerald respond to this one.

So far, all of our homes have been spared except one – Cindy Chauran. We are thankful that she is still with us.

Dan

From: Jody Newland <jnewland@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 11:33 AM

To: Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Re: Riverside Fire - Phase II

Along those lines...

I have been reading how we should not get ash on our skin or wash right away if we do.

Not to wash off our driveways into the storm drains.

How to begin the smoke damage clean up inside our houses. Etc..

Is there a way we can put together reliable information of this sort as a link to our city website that we can begin to put out there before people come back and start doing all that stuff? This is completely new territory for a lot of us. (Finally, something we can glean from our California transplants! Jk...)

Jody

Also, I have really been thinking about and praying for all of our city staff and their homes. I don’t know where everyone lives, except for the few you have shared. Is that something you could share with me or with council? I really do care for you all.

From: Dan Huff

Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 11:10 AM

To: Keith Swigart; Leota Childress; Elizabeth Klein; DeLise Palumbo; Jody Newland; Terry Shankle; Crystal Robles

Cc: Darlene Bishop

Subject: Riverside Fire - Phase II

Mayor and Council – One issue that we have commenced planning for is “what happens when we go to Level 2?”

1. Public Works has commenced preliminary wash downs of fire lanes and public properties. Additional planning and prep work will be developed over the next few days.
2. We are also working with Molalla River School District in town as well for wash downs. Their properties may be used for Red Cross sites during the Level 2 return process.
3. Industrial air purifiers have been ordered for city facilities and should arrive today. We have connected the School District to the same provider so they can begin preparing the school facilities for use.
4. Water Treatment is safe, protected and functioning. Water tender hydrant fill-ups and private use has been uninterrupted.

Stay Safe

Dan Huff

City Manager

City of Molalla, Oregon

(503)829-6855

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